In four consecutive starts, Chacín was on the mound for Milwaukee clinching its first playoff berth since 2011 in St. Louis; Game 163 at Wrigley Field in which the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs for the Central Division title; a Game 2 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the National League Divisional Series; and a Game 3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.

"It feels awesome," said Chacín. "Since 2017, I would always see this team having fun and how they’re playing the game, and I always wanted to come to this team. They gave me a lot of joy last year, just giving me a chance to pitch in the playoffs, giving me a chance to pitch meaningful games in September.

"All the things we did last year were just awesome, and it’s an honor to get to start opening day for a team that just gave me so much. Hopefully I can give it back, and just try to start off the season on the right foot."

His first actually came in Milwaukee in 2013, when he took a no-decision over 6 2/3 innings while pitching for the Colorado Rockies (the Brewers won, 5-4). Then in 2017, while with the San Diego Padres, Chacín was hit hard in a loss at Dodger Stadium.

"It is a big deal," he said. "I feel like you don’t get to pitch opening days that much. Every time that I’ve had the chance to pitch opening days, I’ve always tried to take it humbly and just tried to give my team all that I’ve got. The two times have been different, and we didn’t win the games. So, hopefully this is the right time for me and for the team to win the game.

"I never had a chance to pitch for the home team – the two times had been away, so I think it’s going to be a little bit different. I’m just excited, and it’s an honor to pitch opening day for the Milwaukee Brewers."

The track record of Milwaukee's opening-day starters in recent years hasn't been good, with Chase Anderson (2018), Junior Guerra (2017), Wily Peralta (2016) and Kyle Lohse (2015) all going on to endure disappointing seasons.